Blight noticed in paddy fileds

According to a survey carried out by PAU team of plant pathologists, incidence of blight has been noticed in paddy fields in different parts of Punjab.

Providing details, Dr H.S. Rewal, Head of the Department of Plant Pathology, said that the disease has been noticed in all varieties of Basmati grown in the areas of Sangrur, Patiala, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana. He said the disease appeared as yellowish green stripes running from tip downwards and the affected leaf started drying from the margins.

In the severely affected plants, the drying up starts from the top. He said farmers should not spray pesticides to control the disease as these are not effective against it. Since the disease required high humidity for its development, farmers would do well not to allow stagnation of water in the fields, added he.

Dr Rewal advised the farmers to contact experts at PAU, Ludhiana, and its regional stations in case they needed any further clarification.